Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents 2019

Federal Benefits

for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors



2019 Edition

Phone Numbers

Veterans Crisis Line. 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 Bereavement Counseling.1-202-461-6530 Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA).1-800-733-8387 Caregiver Stipend 1-877-733-7927 Debt Management Center... 1-800-827-0648 Education.1-888-442-4551 Foreign Medical Program...1-303-331-7590 Spina Bifida Program1-888-820-1756 Camp Lejeune Family Member Program 1-866-372-1144 Headstones and Markers.1-800-697-6947 Health Care.1-877-222-8387 Homeless Veterans. 1-877-424-3838 Home Loans.1-888-827-3702 Life Insurance. 1-800-669-8477 National Cemetery Scheduling Office1-800-535-1117 Pension Management Center1-877-294-6380 Presidential Memorial Certificate Program.1-202-565-4964 Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD).1-800-829-4833 VA Benefits.1-800-827-1000 VA Combat Call Center1-877-927-8387 Women Veterans. 1-877-222-8387

Web Sites

Mental Health.mentalhealth. Burial and Memorial Benefitscem. Caregiver Support caregiver. CHAMPVA champva/index.asp Community Care eBenefits...ebenefits. Education Benefits.gibill. Environmental Exposures. publichealth.exposures Federal Recovery Coordination Program icbc/frcp Health Care Eligibility healthbenefits Homeless Veterans... homeless Home Loan Guaranty homeloans. Life Insurance. insurance. Memorial Certificate .Program. cem.pmc.asp My HealtheVet... myhealth. National Resource Directory Records. st-louis/military-personnel Returning Servicemembers oefoif. State Departments of Veterans Affairs statedva.htm Women Veterans. womenshealth. VA Vet Centers...vetcenter. VA Home Page. VA Benefit Payment Rates. vba.bln/21/rates VA Forms.vaform Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

Introduction

Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of benefits and services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits are codified in Title 38 of the United States Code. This booklet contains a brief overview of the most commonly sought information concerning Veterans benefits and services. For the most accurate information, Veterans and family members should visit the websites provided within this publication as regulations, payments, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. For additional information, please visit . To find the nearest VA facility, go to .

General Eligibility: Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Eligible Wartime Periods: Certain VA Benefits Require Wartime Service. For information on eligible wartime periods please visit http:// benefits.pension/wartimeperiod.asp. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison must contact VA to determine eligibility. VA benefits will not be provided to any Veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.

Important Documents: In order to expedite benefits delivery, Veterans seeking a VA benefit for the first time must submit a copy of their service discharge form (DD-214, DD-215, or for World War II Veterans, a WD form), which documents service dates and type of discharge, or provides full name, military service number, and branch and dates of service. The Veteran's service discharge form should be kept in a safe location accessible to the Veteran and next of kin or representative.

The following documents will be needed for claims processing related to a Veteran's death: Veteran's marriage certificate for claims of a surviving spouse or children; Veteran's death certificate if the Veteran did not die in a VA health care facility; children's birth certificates or adoption papers to determine children's benefits; or Veteran's birth certificate to determine parents' benefits. For information and updates on VA benefits

and services, follow us on Facebook at VeteransBenefits and/or Twitter .

eBenefits

eBenefits is a joint VA/Department of Defense (DoD) Web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to service members, Veterans, and their families to apply, research, access, and manage their VA and military benefits and personal information through a secure Internet connection.

Through eBenefits Veterans can: apply for benefits, view their disability compensation claim status, access official military personnel documents (e.g., DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), transfer entitlement of Post-9/11 GI Bill to eligible dependents (service members only), obtain a VA-guaranteed home loan Certificate of Eligibility, and register for and update direct deposit information for certain benefits. New features are added regularly.

Accessing eBenefits: The portal is located at ebenefits.. Service members or Veterans must register for an eBenefits account at one of two levels: Basic or Premium. A Premium account allows the user to access personal data in VA and DoD systems, as well as apply for benefits online, check the status of claims, update address records, and more. The Basic account allows access to information entered into eBenefits by the service member or Veteran only. Basic accounts cannot access VA or DoD systems.

Reporting Fraud: Help VA's Secretary ensure integrity by reporting suspected fraud, waste or abuse in VA programs or operations.

Report Fraud to: VA Inspector General Hotline 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20420 E-mail: vaoighotline@ VAOIG hotline: 1-800-488-8244 Fax: (202) 495-5861

Contents

Health Care

1

Benefits

14

Burial and Memorial Benefits

63

Chapter 1

Health Care 1

Health Care

More information on VA health care is available at the following resources: health, healthbenefits and VA Health Benefits toll-free 1-877- 222-VETS (8387) Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. EST.

Basic Eligibility: A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits including qualifying Reserve and National Guard members.

Minimum Duty Requirements: Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24-continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Enrollment: Veterans can complete applications for enrollment in VA health care by using one of the options below:

? To apply by phone, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday through

Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST. VA staff members will collect the needed information and process the enrollment application for an enrollment determination.

? When applying online at , Veterans fill out the application

and electronically submit it to VA for processing. VA will search for your supporting documentation through its electronic information systems and will contact you if it is unable to verify your military service.

? The application form can also be downloaded from .

health-care/apply/application/introduction. Mail the completed form to: Health Eligibility Center ATTN: Enrollment Eligibility Division 2957 Clairmont Road Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647

? Apply in person at any VA health care facility or VA regional office.

Once enrolled, Veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.

The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll, but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

1. Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more.

2 Health Care

Chapter 1

2. Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.

3. Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only.

4. Veterans seeking registry examinations (ionizing radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Enduring Freedom/ Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) depleted uranium, airborne hazards and Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry).

Priority Groups: During enrollment, each Veteran is assigned to a priority group. VA uses priority groups to balance demand for VA health care enrollment with resources. Changes in available resources may reduce the number of priority groups VA can enroll. If this occurs, VA will publicize the changes and notify affected enrollees. A description of priority groups follows:

Group 1: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or more; Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions; and Veterans who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.

Group 2: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 or 40 percent.

Group 3: Veterans who are former Prisoners of War; Veterans awarded the Purple Heart medal; Veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; Veterans with VA service-connected disabilities rated 10 or 20 percent; and, Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., ? 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation."

Group 4: Veterans who receive increased compensation or pension based on their need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound; and, Veterans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.

Group 5: Nonservice-connected Veterans and non-compensable service-connected Veterans rated by VA as 0-percent disabled and who have an annual income below the VA's geographically-adjusted income limit (based on your resident ZIP code); Veterans receiving VA Pension benefits; and Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Group 6: Compensable 0 percent service-connected Veterans; Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Project 112/SHAD participants; Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975; Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia

Chapter 1

Health Care 3

theater of operations from Aug. 2, 1990, through Nov. 11, 1998; Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998, as follows: Veterans discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28, 2003, for five years post discharge; and Veterans who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between Aug.1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. Currently enrolled Veterans and new enrollees who served in a theater of combat operations after Nov.11, 1998 and those who were discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced benefits for five years post discharge

Note: At the end of this enhanced enrollment priority group placement time period, Veterans will be assigned to the highest priority group their eligibility for which their status at that time qualifies.

Group 7: Veterans with gross household income below the geographically-adjusted VA income limit for their resident location and, who agree to pay copayments.

Group 8: Veterans with gross household incomes above VA national income limit and the geographically-adjusted income limit for their resident location and, who agree to pay copayments. Veterans eligible for enrollment: Noncompensable 0-percent service-connected and are:

Subpriority a: Enrolled as of Jan. 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this subpriority due to changed eligibility status. Subpriority b: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, whose income exceeds the current VA national income limits or VA national geographic income limits by 10 percent or less Veterans eligible for enrollment: nonservice-connected and: Subpriority c: Enrolled as of Jan. 16, 2003, and who remained enrolled since that date and/ or placed in this subpriority due to changed eligibility status. Subpriority d: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current VA national income limits or VA national geographic income limits by 10 percent or less Veterans NOT eligible for enrollment: Veterans not meeting the criteria above: Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0-percent service-connected (eligible for care of their service-connected condition only). Subpriority f: Nonservice-connected

VA's income limits change annually and current levels can be located at LegacyVAThresholds/Index?FiscalYear=2019.

4 Health Care

Chapter 1

The VA MISSION Act

On June 6, 2018, the President signed the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act (MISSION Act) of 2018. This law strengthens VA's ability to deliver trusted, easy to access, high quality care at VA facilities, virtually through telehealth, and in your community. The law makes several improvements to VA care that begin on June 6, 2019. Under the MISSION Act, VA will:

? Continue to provide you with an excellent health

care experience

? Deliver the right care, at the right time, at the right place ? Continue to offer care through telehealth in your home, in a

VA facility, or in the community

? Provide more options for health care, including community

care and urgent/walk-in care

Eligibility for Community Care Community care is changing on June 6, 2019. Under the MISSION Act, there are six different eligibility criteria for community care. Meeting any one of these criteria for the specific care you need means you are eligible to elect to receive that care either through direct VA care or a community provider in VA's network:

? The specific care you need is not provided by VA at any facility ? You reside in a U.S. state (AK, HI, or NH) or territory (Guam,

American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, or U.S. Virgin Islands) that does not have a full-service VA medical facility

? "Grandfathered" eligibility based on residence and the 40-mile

eligibility criterion from the Choice program

? The specific care you need is not available within designated

access standards

? You and your referring clinician decide it is in your best

medical interest to receive the specific care you need in the community

? VA has designated the VA medical service line delivering the

specific care you need as not providing care that complies with VA's standards for quality

Urgent Care VA will offer an urgent/walk-in care benefit for minor injuries and illnesses, such as pink eye or ear infections. To be covered by this benefit, you must be enrolled in the VA health care system and have received care from VA within the 24 months prior to seeking this care to be eligible for this benefit.

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